Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps he is taking to ensure that the policies outlined in the Skills for Jobs White Paper are adequately funded.

At Spending Review 2020, the government announced £291 million of investment in Further Education in 21-22, to ensure that core funding for 16-19 year-olds is maintained in real terms per learner, rising in line with demographic growth, as well as £180m of additional capital funding to build new FE college places, for the roll-out of T Levels, and for Institutes of Technology.

The Government is also maintaining its commitment to provide £1.5 billion of capital funding to bring the entire college estate up to a good condition by 2025, announced at Budget 2020, of which £200m was allocated in 20-21 for immediate remedial projects.

Spending Review 2020 also committed £375 million from the National Skills Fund for 21-22. This includes £138 million to deliver the PM’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee - of which £95 million will fund free in-demand technical courses for adults at Level 3 (equivalent to A Level) and £43 million to expand employer-led skills bootcamps across England - and £110 million, including £50m of capital investment, to drive up higher technical provision in support of the future roll out of a flexible Lifelong Loan Entitlement, and to test and develop innovative models for local collaboration between skills providers and employers.

Funding beyond 21-22 will be considered as part of the next Spending Review.